The college season is among us. Eager freshmen are jailbreaking into their new dorms with the excitement of their new found freedom. Sophomores are excited to finally be out of the dorms, and experience “sophisticated” apartment living. While juniors and seniors are soaking in the later years of college before they discover the “real” world problems their parents have warned them about all along. Although academics are the main reason students flock to college campuses, the conversations students participate in daily are vital to their educational experience. To some, the new found opinions will be a culture shock. While for others, it’ll be a valued sigh of relief. Either way, college is your time to find your stance in this world, and what is a better way to do that then a friendly discussion over “taboo” topics. Four common topics discussed on college campuses are:

1. Going Greek

During the first week of college some common questions for freshman are “Did you rush?” “What sorority/fraternity are you in?” “Are you going to join a sorority/fraternity next semester?” Some students will stick to the basic yes or no responses, but most students aren't afraid to share their opinion. If they think Greek life is a waste of time, they say so. If they are passionate about what their sorority/fraternity has done for them, they share. Regardless, don't be defined by Greek Life. It’s only one of many decisions you’ll make in college.

2. Politics

With the election season among us this is a frequent, yet important conversation to have. Maybe you side with a particular party because that’s what your parents are. Maybe you are a political science major and this is your shining moment, or you only have a basic knowledge and even less of an opinion on politics. The good thing is that students are more than willing to share.

3. Religion

In college, people either run towards religion, or away from it. It’s your choice now. What I love, is that no matter what you choose you can find people with similar belief systems. It’s “cool” to have a strong faith, but it’s also “cool” to not. It’s totally acceptable to question, and try to figure out the complicated world of religion. College students recognize that religion isn’t a fad.

4. Sex

If you come from a conservative family this will definitely be a cultural shock, but everyone talks about sex. If they’re having it, if they’re not, if they’re waiting. If you live in a dorm you will probably hear people having sex at some point. It’s not a subject to be ashamed about anymore.

While these conversations are great, I challenge college students not to stop there. Growth while necessary is never easy, and can lead to some tough issues. Who better to talk to them about than other students who are also in college and potentially battling some of the same problems you are. Four topics college students should talk about are:

1. Consent/Sexual Assault

Sexual assault and the lack of understanding of consent is an epidemic on college campuses! You and your friends might make witty remarks at the posters plastered on campus, or attend consent based programs orchestrated by your R.A., but when is the last time you had a honest conversations on your opinions/ experience with consent and sexual assault? One and five girls, and one and six men are sexually assaulted in college. That means that if you’re a college girl and you live on a floor with 50 girls, statistically you know ten girls right now who have experienced sexual assault. That's one hell of a conversation. I feel that a reason this is still an epidemic is because there are no voices to match these poster statistics. I urge you to create a conversation where people feel free to talk without fear of victim shaming and assumptions. If people knew the faces behind these numbers, the passion to bring this crime to an end would amplify.

2. Suicide

According to Associated Press and mtvU “80 percent of college students say they frequently or sometimes experience daily stress, 34 percent have felt depressed at some point in the past three months, 13 percent have been diagnosed with a mental health condition such as an anxiety disorder or depression, and nine percent have seriously considered suicide in the past year.” Needless to say, college is a tough transition. My freshman year at the University of Tennessee a fellow student from my class, Darda Lockley, committed suicide. I never knew him personally, but I saw him in my residence hall with his friends. Looking back, I don’t remember anybody ever talking about suicide or depression. Warning sighs, experiences, high functioning depression, low functioning depression, none of it. How are we able to help our fellow students when we don’t even know what the problem looks like? When I think of depression, I think of the students who never come out of their rooms, fail to shower, and don’t go to class. I coincide depression with isolation. It doesn’t always look like that. Depression can be high functioning and hid with a smile. While I’m not an expert, I do know that college campuses can’t afford suicide and depression to be a closet conversation.

3. Alcohol

It’s no secret that alcohol and college campuses go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s the unspoken conversation that students think they have with each other, but they really don’t. College might be the first place for a student to experience drinking, or they might decide not to drink. I remember my freshman year in psychology class the professor was discussing alcoholism/binge drinking and my classmate looked over at me with a shocked look and stated “according to that, I’m an alcoholic.” With tailgates and parties, the amount a college student drinks can sneak up on them. While in college it may be the “norm,” it can result in negative effects. I’ve seen student’s grade suffer, drunk driving, and we all have witnessed “that” girl. Students don’t talk about the harmful effects of alcohol let alone the etiquette. Not only can it negatively affect a student's day to day functions, but it can also increase the risk of sexual assault. However, you don’t have to be the “party girl” to have something bad happen to you. You don’t have to be the “party girl” at all in college. Not everyone chooses to drink. That's ok too. Alcohol is a choice, not a requirement for college.

4. LGBTQ

After a long fight UT decided to cut diversity funding. Thankfully, the Pride Center on campus has still stayed open. It saddens me that topics that deal with LGBTQ are seen as optional. Funding is optional, inclusion by using preferred pronouns are optional, and even educating one’s self on the LGBTQ community is optional. Humans shouldn't be treated as if they’re optional. Nevertheless, that means that you have the option to make a difference on your campus. I’ve had professors introduce themselves using their preferred pronoun to create a welcoming environment, and I even have had friends take “Safe Zone Training” classes. It’s a class provided by the pride center to bring awareness about the LGBTQ community. While we have a long way to go, education is the key. Despite your opinion, positive or negative, on the LGBTQ community how much do you really know about them? Have you ever had a conversation that goes beyond the simple “I support them” or “I don’t agree with them” yes or no discussion?

One of my favorite quotes is by Pastor Martin Niemoller, he says:

“First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me -”

It’s directed to the holocaust, but it also pertains to everyday life. Maybe these topics aren’t the most popular, and even a little awkward at times; however, they affect us all. The golden social rule our parents taught us of “don’t speak about religion, politics or money” doesn’t exist in college. It’s the exact opposite. If the college culture supports anything, it’s speaking up. Sexual assault, suicide, depression, alcohol and the LGBTQ community can’t be swept under the rug with silent denial. We as a college community need to personally speak up instead of being spoken to about these topics. We need to speak out for each other. A conversation may not fix any of these issues, but we can’t start to fix them without acceptance and realization of the sheer fact that they are indeed problems. Talking about it is the first step. Every student will have the opportunity to speak up, and should speak up, but the more important question is: will they?